Rail grants to benefit local businesses
MADISON — Four local companies will benefit from freight rail loans totalling nearly $12 million.
Gov. Scott Walker announced Tuesday six state awards that will be used to build freight rail-related facilities and upgrade rail infrastructure.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is administering the money through the Freight Railroad Infrastructure Improvement Program, a revolving loan program.
The infrastructure improvement program loans are used to improve rail infrastructure, highway and grade crossings and construct new rail-served businesses.
As the loans are repaid, they help fund new projects.
The local businesses benefiting from the loans include:
-- Landmark Services Cooperative, 6524 County M, Evansville, $1.5 million. The money will be used to build a 730,000-bushel capacity grain storage bin at its facility near Evansville.
The project's total cost is $1.6 million. The project will provide storage space for grain during the harvest season, which can be held for later shipment through the rail terminal.
-- Millard Feed, doing businesses as Agroliance, 2939 Old Highway 140 South, Avalon, $610,000. The loan will be used to build rail siding, a load out facility and a one million–gallon liquid fertilizer storage tank.
-- Sharratt Warehousing & Distribution, 30 Collins Road, Jefferson, $1.8 million. The loan will be used for rail siding and a loading facility that will be part of a planned temperature controlled warehouse in Reedsburg.
-- Zenda Grain, W3725 Builders Court, Zenda, $1.5 million. The company will construct a grain drying and storage facility at its existing grain elevator site. The project will include two, 48-foot diameter grain bins, a concrete grain dump pit and a 110-foot elevator leg.
The other two businesses are:
-- Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad, One Larkin Plaz, Mich., $1.8 million. The money will be used to cover 80 percent of replacing six bridges in Oconto and Marinette counties.
-- Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, 5300 N. 33rd St., Milwaukee, $4 million. The loan will be used for railroad bridge rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Sep 24, 2012 at 4:48 p.m.
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Well there are programs, as long as the company getting them were donors before the election
Sep 24, 2012 at 4:22 p.m.
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You mean there's a role for government in projects where private companies benefit? It's almost like there's some kind of alternate reality where the teapublican/social conservative reside. Bizarro, right Superman?
Sep 24, 2012 at 2:01 p.m.
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Campaign contributions = legalized bribery. We need campaign finance reform more than ever.
Sep 19, 2012 at 4:25 p.m.
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Suprise! The Wisconsin and Southern Railroad IS a "local business" ( it's that big building with all the trains at Five Points )and some of us will benefit from the reconstruction funds...
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